Tofino Artist Godfrey Stephens

Born on Vancouver Island in 1939, Godfrey has spent the past 40 years traveling the world, building sail boats, creating and selling his artwork from his mobile studios. Much of his greatest works were crafted while floating on the waters of Clayoquot Sound.

Ascending from a family of talented artists and writers; from early childhood his mother gave him great encouragement. Godfrey is self-taught, and has spent his time studying Native Art, the Classics, Greek Art and Architecture, and the History of Ancient Sailing Vessels.

Residing in Victoria, b.c. Canada, Godfrey continues to paint, draw and sculpt from a turn of the century coach house studio.

His style is reminiscent of Ancient Greek, 1912 Futurism, Picasso and Northwest Coast Native Art. His own techniques are unique.

Godfrey has been influenced a great deal by world famous West Coast Carver Chief Mungo Martin (1881-1962), whom he had a friendship with as a child and young man.

He is now building his tenth sailboat, fondly named Mungo II.

Carved in 1984 as a monument to the protest of logging on Meares Island, Godfrey Stephen’s Weeping Cedar Woman was fashioned from a windfall Western Red Cedar that Godfrey and Joe Martin had salvaged.

The work was done in a furious two-week burst of energy inspired by his love of the forests of Clayoquot Sound. She stood on Strawberry Island in the Tofino harbour for 16 years looking across to us.

She was brought back across in recent years for some tlc Godfrey spent many days scarfing in new wood and adorning her with copper hair. He wishes to find a permanent home for her here in the Tofino area and has put her on the market for a new owner.

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Visit the Weeping Cedar Woman in Tofino in front of the whale centre at 411 Campbell Street. For more information you can reach Godfrey at (250) 384-3213 or view www.godfreysart.com